Canelo Alvarez Shifts Focus from Terence Crawford to Jake Paul for High-Profile Boxing Match

2025-03-01

Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez has reportedly dropped plans for a highly anticipated fight against Terence Crawford to instead pursue a bout with YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul. According to multiple sources, Alvarez is finalizing a deal to face Paul on May 3 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight, expected to be contested at the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds, would mark a significant shift in Alvarez’s career, as he pivots from a legacy-defining matchup with Crawford to a high-profile, financially lucrative event against one of boxing’s most polarizing figures.

The decision comes after Alvarez, boxing’s top star and unified super middleweight champion, was reportedly offered a lucrative three-fight deal by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, starting with a Crawford bout in September. However, Alvarez appears to have leveraged the speculation around a Paul fight to secure a more financially rewarding opportunity. Promoter Eddie Hearn defended the move, stating, “The bigger fight is Jake Paul because in that fight, you’ve got two big stars. In the Crawford fight, you’ve got two great fighters and one big star.”

Paul, 28, has become one of boxing’s biggest draws despite his novice skill level, with his recent victory over 58-year-old Mike Tyson drawing a staggering 64 million concurrent streams on Netflix. Alvarez, 34, last fought in September, defeating Edgar Berlanga to improve his record to 62-2-2. While the boxing world has expressed mixed reactions to the potential Alvarez-Paul matchup, with some fans criticizing the move as a “horrible look” for the sport, others acknowledge the financial appeal of the crossover fight.

As of now, the Alvarez-Paul fight is not yet officially confirmed, with some reports suggesting the deal is still in preliminary stages. Meanwhile, Crawford, the consensus best pound-for-pound boxer, may now face IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis later this year. Alvarez’s decision to pursue the Paul fight highlights the growing influence of crossover events in boxing, blending traditional competition with entertainment-driven spectacles.

Canelo Alvarez drops Jake Paul fight to sign Saudi Arabia deal

Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez has dropped plans to fight Jake Paul by signing with Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia.

www.aljazeera.com

Sources: Canelo-Paul in works; Crawford bout off

In the wake of Canelo Alvarez finalizing a deal to face Jake Paul on May 3 in Las Vegas, attempts to make a fight between Alvarez and Terence Crawford

www.espn.com